Not every crack or musty smell means trouble – sometimes it’s just an older home showing its age.
But other times? It’s your house quietly warning you that something’s not quite right.
And you’re not alone. A recent report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute found that a whopping 70% of Aussie homes have some kind of building defect.
The top culprits? Wall cracks (44%), mould (35%), and plumbing problems (27%).
So whether you’re buying, selling, renovating, or just keeping an eye on things, knowing when to call a building inspector can save you serious stress – and some serious money.
Here’s how to spot the signs it’s time to stop guessing and get a professional involved.
Home Health Checklist
Short on time? Here are the top warning signs your home might need a building inspection.
- Cracks in walls that are wide, long, or stair-shaped
- Doors or windows that jam, stick, or swing open
- Fresh paint covering damp spots or damage
- Musty smells in rooms or storage areas
- Uneven, sloping, or bouncy floors
- Flickering lights or sparking power points
- Leaking taps or noisy, low-pressure pipes
- Visible signs of termites or pests
- Rooms that feel too hot, cold, or damp
Still wondering if it’s time to call in the pros? Let’s break down the telltale signs your home is begging for a building inspection.
1. Cracks That Don’t Look Cosmetic
Whether it’s a brown-brick townhouse in Carlton or a washed-out weatherboard home in Brunswick, a few cracks in the walls aren’t unusual.
Most homes shift a bit over time, especially in Victoria, where clay soils and wild weather love to play tug-of-war with your foundations.
But not all cracks are created equal. Some are harmless… others are waving red flags while shouting, “You might want to get this looked at.”
If you’re spotting:
- Long horizontal cracks in brickwork or render
- Cracks wider than 2-3 mm (you can fit a 20c coin in them)
- Stair-step cracks in masonry
- Cracks near doors and windows that cause them to jam
…it’s time to investigate further. These may point to issues with footings or subsidence that a building inspector can diagnose.
2. Doors That Stick or Swing
We’ve all battled a sticky door now and then (usually with a bit of shoulder barging and some colourful language).
But if your doors are consistently jamming, dragging, or swinging open like something out of a horror movie, it could be more than just humidity or old hinges.
Doors that suddenly refuse to shut properly (or won’t stay shut no matter how many times you slam them) often point to structural movement. That movement might be minor, or it could signal something shifting in your foundations, subfloor, or framing.
And it’s not just doors. Windows that jam or won’t latch properly can also be a clue that something’s off, especially if they used to work fine and now suddenly need the strength of ten to open.
If you’re noticing a pattern (doors sticking, windows acting up, maybe even cracks forming nearby), it’s time to stop wrestling with your door and start asking what’s really going on.
3. Paint That’s Trying Too Hard
A fresh lick of paint can do wonders – brighten a room, modernise a space, even make it smell a bit like “new house.”
But sometimes, paint is working overtime. Like, suspiciously hard.
If you’re seeing patchy walls, one freshly painted room in a sea of tired ones, or oddly glossy areas that weren’t there last week, your prospective property purchase might be trying to hide something.
Keep an eye out for bubbling, peeling, or flaking paint, especially in bathrooms, laundries, or near ceilings. That’s often moisture trying to escape… and losing the fight.
Hairline cracks under paint? Possibly structural. And don’t forget “mould-blindness,” where a quick splash of white hides a bigger issue growing underneath.
A house inspection can uncover what the paint is really hiding, so you’re not left dealing with expensive repairs after the “wow” factor wears off.
4. Damp Smells or Musty Rooms
If stepping into certain parts of your home feels like walking into a forgotten camping tent after a week of rain, don’t ignore it.
That musty smell isn’t just “old house charm”; it’s your nose warning you that something’s off.
Damp odours are usually the first red flag for hidden issues like poor ventilation, slow plumbing leaks, or rising damp.
They love to hang out in places we don’t – under staircases, behind furniture, in the laundry, or those weird little storage cupboards that haven’t seen daylight since the ‘90s.
You might also notice mould spots on the ceiling, walls that feel clammy to the touch, or skirting boards that are starting to warp like they’ve been in a sauna. Metal fittings might rust, nails might bleed through paint, and floorboards can start lifting in quiet protest.
Sure, you could burn a dozen candles and pretend it’s atmospheric. Or you could bring in a building inspector to figure out where the moisture’s coming from before your home turns into a full-blown fungus farm.
5. Warped Floors or Uneven Surfaces
Unless you’ve deliberately installed a funhouse floor, bumps, slopes, and springy patches underfoot probably aren’t part of the design.
If your tiles are lifting, your floorboards are bouncing, or your hallway feels like it’s got its own gradient, it’s not just your imagination. Something’s likely going on beneath the surface.
Uneven or warped flooring can be a sign of…
- Water damage below the surface
- Structural movement
- Pest damage to subfloor timbers
That slight slope you’ve been ignoring? It could be the first clue in a much bigger (and pricier) problem.
6. Electrical Oddities
Electricity should be predictable – lights on, lights off, no surprises. So when your home starts acting like it’s auditioning for a haunted house (flickering lights, buzzing sounds, random sparks), it’s not just annoying, it’s potentially dangerous.
Maybe the lights dim every time you use the microwave. Maybe a power point feels warm, or the toaster trips the breaker like it’s holding a grudge. Or maybe you’ve noticed that one outlet that sparks just a little when you plug something in.
These quirks might seem harmless, but they’re often early signs of ageing wiring, overloaded circuits, or even past DIY work that shouldn’t have passed the “mate, I’ve got this” stage.
And while a building inspector won’t rewire your home, they will flag electrical issues that need urgent attention before something arcs, burns out, or shuts down your Netflix mid-episode.
7. Water Woes and Plumbing Problems
Water is great when it’s coming out of your tap on command. Not so great when it’s leaking under your sink, bubbling under paint, or whistling through your pipes like a ghost with a vendetta.
Plumbing problems are the quiet assassins of property damage. That slow-drip tap you’ve been ignoring? It might be rotting out your cabinetry.
The inconsistent water pressure you blame on the showerhead? It could be masking a pipe issue behind the wall.
And if your pipes bang, knock, or screech every time you turn on the tap, they’re not haunted, they’re just not happy.
Keep an eye out for:
- Weak or inconsistent water pressure
- Dripping taps or visible leaks
- Stains under sinks or around toilets
- Noisy pipes (whistling or knocking)
8. Visible Termite or Pest Damage
Termites are like bad housemates. They move in without asking, eat everything they can get their jaws on, and leave an absolute mess behind.
The worst part? They do it quietly. By the time you actually see them, they’ve usually been at it for a while.
If you notice…
- Timber that sounds hollow when tapped
- Blistered paint or tiny holes in wood
- Mud tracks on walls or in subfloors
- Piles of fine wood dust (frass)
… there’s a good chance there’s some uninvited guests snacking down on your foundations.
And it’s not just termites. Rats, mice, and other pests love a warm roof cavity or the cosy void under your floor. Scratching noises at night? Could be possums. Or something with more legs.
If you even suspect pest damage, don’t delay. Book a pest inspection before your house becomes an all-you-can-eat buffet.
9. The Home Feels Too Hot, Cold, or Musty
If your home’s internal climate swings harder than Melbourne’s weather (freezing in one room, stifling in another, and humid like a rainforest where it really shouldn’t be), it’s worth asking why.
Sure, older homes aren’t known for their insulation. But if your living room feels like a sauna while your bedroom mimics a walk-in freezer, there’s probably more at play than just poor design.
And if every room carries a hint of “wet dog”, no matter how much you clean? That’s your house quietly pleading for ventilation.
Inconsistent temperatures and stubborn musty smells can be signs of hidden issues like damaged insulation, poor airflow, blocked roof vents, or even mould lurking where the eye can’t see.
These might not seem like urgent problems, but they can lead to bigger ones: moisture damage, health issues, rising energy bills, and your home becoming the least popular gathering spot in summer.
When in Doubt, Book the Inspection
You don’t have to wait for leaks, creaks, or cracks to turn into full-blown disasters. Sometimes, it’s just a gut feeling – something seems off, and that’s reason enough to get it checked.
Some issues are easy to spot. Others hide behind paint, tiles, or under the floor, quietly racking up damage while you go about your day.
And unless you’re a structural engineer in your spare time, it’s hard to know what’s serious and what’s just cosmetic.
That’s where a professional inspection makes all the difference. No guesswork. No relying on a mate with a drill and some theories. Just clear answers from someone who knows exactly what to look for.
Need a second opinion on what your home’s trying to tell you?
Book a professional building inspection with Next Gen Inspections, and get the peace of mind (or warning) you need to make smart, confident decisions.
